"…My offer still stands."
Andre looked at her.
No reaction.
"…Come over this weekend."
A pause.
Then she added
"…And you can bring your friends."
"Trust me, it will be fun."
That last part surprised everyone.
Marco gasped dramatically.
"What got into her."
Andre didn't respond immediately.
He just watched her.
Carefully.
Like he was trying to understand something beneath her words.
Then
He spoke.
Calm.
"…Or maybe…"
A slight pause.
"…You come to mine."
Silence.
Complete.
Utter.
Silence.
Marco's brain stopped working.
"…Your house?"
Maria turned slowly to Andre. "…Wait, what?"
She studied him.
"…Your place?"
There was no mockery in her voice.
Just… disbelief.
Andre nodded once.
"…Yes is there anything wrong."
Another pause.
Longer this time.
Esmeralda's eyes flickered
Just slightly.
Because this…
This was unfamiliar territory.
She invited people.
She didn't get invited.
Marco leaned into Maria and whispered "…If she comes to our house, I'm hiding the broken chair."
Maria elbowed him.
"Don't be a fool."
"She obviously won't accept."
Esmeralda looked at Andre again.
Searching.
"…Are you sure about this?"
Andre didn't blink.
"…Yes."
"It's my way of getting to know my new friend."
Her lips parted slightly
Then closed again.
Something was happening.
Internally.
A conflict.
Pride vs curiosity.
Marco whispered again— "…She's buffering."
Then
Esmeralda exhaled softly.
"…Fine, I will be there."
Everyone froze.
Marco blinked. "…Wait, what?"
She didn't look at anyone else.
Only Andre.
"…I'll come."
A beat.
"…This weekend."
Andre nodded.
"…Alright."
"I will be expecting you."
And just like that
It was settled.
She turned and walked away
Marco exploded.
"WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!"
He grabbed Andre's shoulders.
"DO YOU KNOW WHO THAT IS?!"
Andre blinked. "…Yes."
"THEN WHY DID YOU INVITE HER TO YOUR HOUSE LIKE IT'S A STREET FOOD DATE?!"
Hugo chuckled. "…I was supposed to be at my granny's place but I think I will show up."
Misheal smirked. "You better show up, else you will have me to contend with."
Maria stayed quiet.
Watching Andre.
"…Why did you do that?" she asked softly.
Andre pause.
Then said
"…Because her ego is over the mountains."
A beat.
"…I wanted to see how humbling her would be like."
Maria's eyes softened slightly.
"…And now?"
Andre looked toward where Esmeralda had walked off.
"…And now we'll see who she really is."
The corridor hadn't even recovered from Esmeralda's presence when two shadows pounced on her the moment she turned the corner.
"ESMERALDA!"
Poppy and Emilia.
They moved like reporters chasing breaking news, fast, dramatic, and completely uninvited.
"What was that?!" Poppy demanded, grabbing her arm.
"What were you doing with them?" Emilia added, eyes wide with disbelief.
Esmeralda stopped walking.
Slowly turned.
Brows slightly raised.
"…Them?"
Poppy scoffed. "Don't play dumb. The charity case squad."
Emilia folded her arms. "You were laughing. Smiling. SMILING, Esmeralda."
A pause.
"…I was inviting Andre over."
Silence.
Then
"WHAT?!"
Both of them practically screamed.
Poppy staggered back like she'd just been betrayed by her own bloodline. "You're STILL on that?!"
Emilia shook her head in disbelief. "Wow… wow… I thought the whole 'lap dog' phase was over."
Esmeralda's expression changed instantly.
The softness? Gone.
Her gaze hardened.
"Watch your words."
The temperature dropped.
"He is not a lap dog."
Poppy blinked.
Emilia blinked.
"…He's my friend."
That one landed differently.
Not loud. Not aggressive.
But firm enough to shake something.
For a brief second, neither of them spoke.
Then Esmeralda turned and walked away.
No drama. No explanation.
Just left them there.
Silence.
Then,
Poppy's face twisted.
"…Did you hear that?"
Emilia exhaled slowly. "…Yeah."
Poppy laughed.
But it wasn't funny.
"Oh wow… this is hilarious."
Her tone sharpened.
"So THIS is how it starts, huh?"
Emilia frowned slightly. "Poppy…"
"Oh no no no, don't 'Poppy' me."
She turned fully, eyes blazing.
"I found him first."
Emilia blinked. "…Found who?"
"ANDRE."
She pointed dramatically like she was claiming territory.
"I liked him first. Before all this nonsense."
A pause.
"And now suddenly Miss Ice Queen wants to play 'friendship'?"
Her laugh turned cold.
"Yeah right."
Emilia studied her.
"…You're serious."
Poppy stepped closer.
"Dead serious."
Her voice dropped.
"She's not taking him from me."
"…Wow."
A slow clap echoed behind them.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
They froze.
Carlos.
Leaning casually against the wall like he'd been there the entire time.
Which knowing him he probably had.
"That was… entertaining."
Poppy straightened immediately. "…How long have you been there?"
Carlos smirked.
"Long enough to realize something interesting."
He stepped forward slowly.
Eyes sharp. Calculating.
"You two… aren't as loyal as you pretend to be."
Emilia frowned. "We're not doing this with you."
Carlos chuckled.
"Oh relax."
He raised his hands mockingly.
"I'm not here to fight."
A pause.
"I'm here to offer help."
That caught them.
Poppy narrowed her eyes. "…Help?"
Carlos tilted his head.
"You want Andre."
A glance at Emilia.
"You want peace."
Then back to both of them.
"And I want Esmeralda broken."
Silence.
Heavy. Dangerous.
Emilia stepped forward.
"…She's our friend."
"We will never betray her."
Carlos smiled.
That kind of smile that makes you regret speaking.
"Friend?"
He laughed softly.
"You mean the same 'friend' who calls you useless?"
"…who treats you like background noise?"
"…who replaces you the moment something better walks in?"
Each word hit.
Hard.
Precise.
Emilia hesitated.
Just for a second.
Carlos saw it.
Of course he did.
He always does.
He stepped closer.
Voice softer now.
More dangerous.
"I don't need your loyalty."
A pause.
"I just need your honesty."
Then
He turned.
Started walking away.
"…It's fine if you are not interested."
Over his shoulder
"I never doubted your loyalty anyway."
A slight smirk.
"After all… you're her dogs."
And just like that
He kept walking.
Silence.
Then.
"Wait."
Carlos stopped.
And gave an intentional smile.
Didn't turn.
Slowly…
Poppy stepped forward.
Eyes locked.
"…What do we have to do?"
Emilia's head snapped toward her.
"Poppy"
But Poppy didn't look at her.
Didn't hesitate.
Didn't blink.
Something had already shifted inside her.
Carlos smiled.
Still not facing them.
"…Now that…"
A pause.
"…is the right question."
And just like that
The game changed.